19–22 May 2026
Europe/Paris timezone

Pore scale investigation of reaction induced mechanical weakening of subsurface rock

20 May 2026, 11:50
15m
Oral Presentation (MS20) Special Session in Honor of Jun Yao MS20

Speaker

Yingfang Zhou (University of Aberdeen)

Description

Reaction flow in porous media fundamentally couples fluid flow and chemical reactions, dynamically altering material properties, including permeability, porosity, and mechanical strength. This study utilizes a pore-scale model to analyze how dissolution patterns, classified by the Damköhler (Da) and Péclet (Pe) numbers, affect the elastic properties of carbonate rocks. Our simulations establish two distinct structural degradation mechanisms and corresponding mechanical responses. Advection-dominated conditions (high Pe, low Da) promote uniform dissolution throughout the porous structure, resulting in a gradual and stable decrease in elastic moduli. Conversely, reaction-dominated conditions (high Da, low Pe) induce face dissolution localized near the injection source, causing a rapid, significant decline in moduli and accelerated elastic weakening. This divergence is attributed to varying acid transport efficiencies, which dictate the spatial distribution of dissolution and the resulting structural damage. A critical finding is that during face dissolution under high-concentration scenarios, the shear modulus decreased faster than the bulk modulus, indicating that localized chemical attack heightens the rock's susceptibility to shear deformation. These findings provide essential pore-scale insight into the stability of carbonate rocks during processes like CO2 geological sequestration and acid treatment, supporting the development of more accurate predictive models and safer reservoir management strategies.

Country United Kingdom
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Author

Yingfang Zhou (University of Aberdeen)

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